Improved mop-holder



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS O. BALL, OF SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO LEWIS GRA. HAM, HENRY HARLOVV, AND G. WASHBURN, OF SAME PLACE, AND SAID HENRY HARLOW, AND A. L. THOMPSON, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF LEWIS GRAHAM, ASSIGNORS TO A. G. VVASHBURN.

IMPROVED MOP-HOLDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 46,290, dated February 7, 1865; antedated February 14, 1863.

T0 all whom t may concern,

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. BALL, of Springfield, in the county of Windsor and State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved Mop-Holder; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making' a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the new mop-holder, showing the mop secured within the same. Fig. 2 is an end View ot' Fig. l, with the mop removed. Fig. 3 shows the sectional metallic springs which are used to secure the cloth to the holder.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate correspondin g parts in the several iigures.

This invention is an improved device for holding cloths for washing dishes and for other purposes.

It consists in combining with a tubular case, which is mounted on a suitable handle, a series of curved springs, so arranged, combined, and applied within the said tubular holder that the springs, each one or all, will adapt themselves to the unequal thickness of' the cloth and retain the cloth within the tube, as will be hereinafter described and represented.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The holder is in shape like that ot' the letter T, and A is the handle portion, which tits into the socket a of the head B. This head B is made ot' cast metal, and is simply a slotted tube, the slot extending from end to end of the head, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, along the top part of it. The socket a may be cast with the head B, and the handle A, being of wood, is easily fitted and secured to this head B.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown the device for securing the rag or cloth (which is the mop) within the head B. Now, it is desirable that this mop should be removed from the head B, and that it be easily replaced again at pleasure, and it is also necessary that the means used for holding the mop should grip it rinly and conform to the varying thickness of one mop, or of mops of different Y sizes and thicknesses. To effect these objects I employ a combination ot' curved springs, b b b b, which may be made of one piece ot' metal, bent as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or of different springs or pieces of metal secured together. When the springs are made of one piece of metal, the strip is struck out by suit-- able mechanism, so as to leave the parallel .slits or spaces c c c c, which give a combination ot' independent springs, a a a a, on each side'or edge ot the plate. The springs are curved in such a manner that the upper end of each spring will press outward and grip the mop firmly against the edges of the slot of tube B, and each ot' these sectional or spring portions a, will yield inwardly or spread out and adapt itself to the varying thickness ofthe mop, at the saine time the springswill none the less cease to grip the cloth when `it is within the hollow head B. This form ot' spring will also admit of the ready application ot' the cloth to the head B, and also its rea-dy withdrawal at pleasure.

The manner of applying the mop to the holder is simply to lay the mop over the back of the spring portion above described; the cloth with the springs are then entered and drawn within the slotted head B, the long ends of the mop passing through the slot in in this head. The whole now presents the appearance represented in Fig. l of the drawings. The mop is removed by slipping it out from either end of the head B. The curved springs for retaining the cloth within the head B may be made of galvanized steel7 spring-brass, or of any other material found best suited to the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what L claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The combination and arrangement of curved springs a a, a a, substantially as described, with the slotted head B, as set forth.

T. C. BALL.

Elitnesses SAML. W. PORTER, CHARLES OLIVER. 

